Nestled within the Yorkshire countryside, Haworth was the former residence of the Brontë sisters: Charlotte, Emily and Anne, whose surrounding moorlands provided inspiration for Emily's novel Wuthering Heights. Their ancestral home has been converted into a museum, cementing Haworth's status as an essential stop for enthusiasts of English literature. (Christopher Megrath)
4. HathersageHathersage has strong literary connections - having inspired Charlotte Brontë while she was writing Jane Eyre. The nearby North Lees Hall (pictured here) also became the main inspiration for Thornfield Hall. (Tom Hardwick)
Where did this book even come from? “The novel started out as my thesis during my MFA at Cornell,” the author explains. “I had this idea of a girl and her brother, this sibling relationship, which is at the heart of the novel. The dynamics of this family and the relationship between the siblings, and the roots of all of that, was also something I was interested in very early on. I read Jane Eyre for the first time in graduate school (late, I know!) and soon after that I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and I was mind-blown. The Gothic as a vehicle for the story of this family started to appeal to me early on, this picture of a house that’s no longer able to hold its secrets, and the novel grew from there.“Jane Eyre and Rebecca both play with things that are revealed and the things that are kept hidden, both from the characters and from the reader. I was also very fascinated by black Gothic, with books like Toni Morrison’s Beloved and Octavia Butler’s Kindred, and a lot of Buchi Emecheta’s work, like Second Class Citizen, which plays with the idea of not just physical confinement but psychological confinement within systems. Add to that the burden of innocence on a character when human beings and circumstances conspire to paint you guilty or deprive you of a voice.” (Neil Nyren)
Swift subverts the classic "scorned woman" trope by recounting these wrongs, not with vengeful rage, but with calm, chilling clarity. "When the fever turns a dreamer into a pathetic ghost / If he's killing you, I see you, I was patient zero," she sings in the song's final lines.She's like Bertha Mason in the attic, warning Jane Eyre of Mr. Rochester's evil, or Rebecca, hovering like a wraith over her murderous husband's estate; she's the woman who haunts the narrative long after she's gone. (Callie Ahlgrim)
A Mercury Theatre Colchester, Rose Theatre & Storyhouse co-production, in association with Northern Stage and supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support TrustJane EyreAdapted by Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original Company.Directed by Lily DibleWith Oscar Adams, Gabriel AkuwudikeMercury Theatre, Colchester26 September to 10 OctoberRose Theatre, Kigston upon Thames13 October to 20 OctoberNorthern Stage, Newcastle3 to 7 NovemberStoryhouse, Chester10 to 21 November“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.”One woman’s fight for a life that is worthy of her courage, and a love that is worthy of her heart.Orphaned as a young girl, the passionate and sensitive Jane longs to escape the clutches of her cruel aunt.Freedom beckons when she is offered the job of a governess in the house of the brooding and secretive Mr Rochester.As intrigue turns to attraction, Jane finds herself drawn in by Rochester’s mercurial charm. But when the truth finally comes out, she will be forced to choose between the man she wants, and the woman she wants to be.Nearly two centuries on, Charlotte Brontë’s groundbreaking story is as thrilling and relevant as ever in this bold production directed by 2025 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award-winner Lily Dyble, based on Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company’s trailblazing adaptation.
26 September - 21 NovemberRugby Art Gallery and Museum, Little Elborow Street, Rugby, CV21 3BZExplore the extraordinary imagination of one of the great artists, printmakers and storytellers of our time. Paula Rego: Visions of English Literature will present three of the artist’s most ambitious series of graphic works; Jane Eyre, Nursery Rhymes and Peter Pan. Each series will be accompanied by a variety of personal items from the artist, many of which have never been publicly displayed before. Unseen preparatory sketches, etching plates and Rego’s very own childhood copy of Peter Pan will offer audiences an intimate portrayal of the artist’s lifelong fascination with literature and an insight into how the artist transformed this material into startlingly original, rebellious and unexpected images.
The Old School Room in Haworth, whose original section was constructed in 1832 by the Rev. Patrick Brontë, has had five windows on its north-facing wall replaced as part of essential restoration work.Averil Kenyon, chairman of The Brontë Spirit, the charity that maintains the building, said: "The south wall windows were replaced back in 2012, and it has taken us 14 years to raise sufficient funds to undertake the restoration of the north-facing windows."We’re delighted with the result because the new windows have been designed to match the style of the windows that were originally part of the building."The project cost £24,000 and was supported by grants from the Bernard Sunley Foundation and The Pilgrim Trust. (Harry Williams)
A powerful new stage adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's classic Jane Eyre arrives at Storyhouse this autumn.Directed by Lily Dyble, Jane Eyre will run at the Chester venue from Tuesday 10 November to Saturday 21 November. [...]"Charlotte Brontë's revolutionary masterpiece Jane Eyre remains as potent today as it did when it was written in 1847, said Storyhouse creative director Suzie Henderson."This dynamic and imaginative new stage adaptation promises to present it in visceral and powerful fashion."I'm delighted to be able to reveal such an exciting cast of talented actors who are working with Lily Dyble in the rehearsal room to bring her thrilling storytelling vision to life for our audiences here at Chester."The role of Jane will be played by Olivia Marcus, while Gabriel Akuwudike will appear as Edward Rochester. The cast also includes Oscar Adams, Aamira Challenger, Millie Faraway, Andrea Gatchalian, Kate Kordel, Robyn Rose-Li and Leo Wan.Jane Eyre is a Storyhouse, Mercury Theatre Colchester, and Rose Theatre co-production, in association with Northern Stage, supported by a grant from the Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST).The production is based on Sally Cookson, Mike Akers and the original company's acclaimed adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's groundbreaking novel.Set designer is Anna Yates, costume designer is Khadija Raza, lighting design is by Lucia Sanches Roldan, and Joseff Harris is sound designer and composer. Movement director is Natasha Harrison, Fight director is Rachid Sabitri and intimacy director is Haruka Kuroda. Casting is by Helena Palmer. (Dherran Titherington)
The 135-minute show is punctuated by eight musical numbers and, though it is now almost obligatory for classic literature to be sung and danced (the most recent victim Jane Eyre), this is a logical candidate. (Mark Lawson)
Things are moody and at times almost Brontë-esque thanks to Arnaud Potier’s autumnal cinematography and the rolling, rain-lashed hills. (Hannah Pettit)
Aïllada al poble diminut de les muntanyes pirinenques on ella i en Sebastià van anar a raure, en bona part perquè era el lloc on vivia un amic comú —que a l’inici de la novel·la es converteix en la nova parella de la protagonista—, la Jara sembla una reencarnació del Heathcliff de Cims borrascosos (una de les citacions que encapçalen la novel·la és d’Emily Brontë), com si perseguint-lo i invocant-lo en tot moment tingués també la prerrogativa de fer-lo present: inquieta i nerviosa, el busca pels paisatges que recorrien o al riu on es banyaven, acariciant els guants de llana que li havia regalat, o en les tres ratlles horitzontals —“una de ben recta que separa el cel gris clar del mar gris fosc, i una de desdibuixada que separa el mar gris fosc del prat mig gris”— de la fotografia que hi ha penjada al menjador. (Ponç Puigdevall) (Translation)
Fri 25 Sept, 6:00pmOld School RoomCelebrate the opening of the Brontë Women’s Writing Festival 2026 with us! The festival will begin with a special reading from poet Emma Conally-Barklem, before we welcome to the stage screenwriter and director Sally Wainwright.2026 marks 10 years since the release of Sally Wainwright’s Brontë biopic, To Walk Invisible. The BBC film marked Sally's first venture into historical drama, beginning in 1845 with the sisters' journey to publication, to Branwell Brontë's death in 1848. Her screenplay is infused with quotes taken directly from letters or diary entries by the Brontës, which gave authenticity to the dialogue.Since then, she has seen success with dramas such as Gentleman Jack, Riot Women, Renegade Nell and the concluding chapter of Happy Valley. This evening we will look back at her career highlights and, of course, delve into the making of ‘To Walk Invisible’
Sat 26 Sept, 10:30amOld School RoomDo you have a taste for eerie moorland mansions and dark, mysterious secrets?If so, then this delightfully gothic panel with authors Essie Fox, Heba Al-Wasity and Stephanie Bramwell Lawes will help you discover more about creating the perfect gothic novel...“Now, eighteen years later, Catherine rises from her grave to tell her story – and seek redemption.” Essie Fox is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her latest novel, Catherine: A retelling of Wuthering Heights, reimagines Emily Brontë's fictional world and tells the famous story from Catherine Earnshaw's point of view. Essie was born and raised in Herefordshire. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London and began a career in magazine and book publishing – before becoming self-employed in commercial art design. Always an avid reader, she now writes historical novels. She also hosts a podcast called Talking the Gothic.“All paths lead to Weavingshaw, a cursed estate on the moors.” Heba Al-Wasity’s debut novel Weavingshaw is a Sunday Times bestseller. This gothic fantasy novel envelops its reader into an atmospheric world, with ghostly encounters and a dark mystery to unfold. Heba Al-Wasity was inspired to write by her own experiences of being born an Iraqi refugee in Libya, growing up in Canada, and attending medical school in the UK. Working as a junior doctor in emergency care and several psychiatric inpatient units, Heba gained first-hand insight into how poverty and deprivation can lead to social inequalities. She is based in Greater Manchester.“There – suddenly – was Thornby Manor. I would never forget the first time I saw it…a talisman of Darkness. An emblem of death.” Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes' debut novel Thornby Manor was inspired by her love of the Brontës and Daphne Du Maurier literary works. Stephanie lures the reader into the great house that “looms above a mist-shrouded lake, its corridors heavy with secrets.” Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes grew up in the historic city of Bath and studied History and Ancient History at Exeter University. A lifelong love of literature led to a career in publishing in 2009, and her passion for books has only continued to grow ever since. Her favourite novels include Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, and anything by Tracy Chevalier. She currently lives in Warwickshire.
Sat 26 Sept, 12:30pmOld School RoomJoin us as we welcome author Dr Sharon Blackie to the festival stage for a discussion about her work and her latest book Ripening.Dr. Sharon Blackie is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author, speaker and teacher. As a psychologist and mythologist, the transformative power of story has been at the heart of her work for decades, and she is a recognised pioneer in reclaiming women’s stories. As well as writing seven books of fiction and nonfiction, including the bestselling If Women Rose Rooted and Hagitude, her work has frequently appeared on the BBC and in international media outlets. Sharon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Member of the UK Association of Jungian Analysts, and has taught and lectured at many academic institutions and cultural festivals around the world. Her much-loved publication The Art of Enchantment is a global Substack Bestseller.
Sat 26 Sept, 2:30pmOld School RoomWe will be travelling back in time with authors Liz Flanagan and Anna Caig, as they shed light on how they recreated worlds from the past in their latest novels...Liz Flanagan is an award-winning author from Hebden Bridge. When We Were Divided is her first historical novel for adults. Although her previous books are for children, all her novels combine vivid landscapes and emotional depth with fast-paced, gripping stories. She teaches Creative Writing in many different settings, has worked as a book editor and as Centre Director for Arvon, at Ted Hughes’s former home, Lumb Bank.Anna Caig is obsessed with the hidden voices of women and a compelling underdog story. Luckily, history offers plenty of these. She’s inspired by the glimpses into a woman’s life we get before the historical record moves onto something considered much more important. What was happening in these gaps? Anna grew up one of three sisters in the wilds of West Yorkshire, scribbling novels into notebooks - and Wuthering Heights is her favourite book. She now lives in the ‘howling wilderness’ of the Peak District. Her debut novel, The Wise Witch of Orkney, was inspired by her love of the northern isles of Scotland, folklore, and passion for depicting women in their midlife and beyond, continuing to live rich, adventurous lives.
Sat 26 Sept, 4:00pmOld School RoomFollowing the success of the Wandering Imaginations project in 2025, we're continuing our literary partnership with Bradford Culture Company and Writers Project of Ghana. Literary Sisters: Accra to Bradford features writers Barsa Ray and Tabitha Bast from Bradford, and Emma Ofosua and Priscilla Adipa from Accra, as they share new work developed as part of this international writers exchange.The project is supported by the British Council and features a companion event at Pa Gya! Festival in Accra, Ghana, in October.
Sat 26 Sept, 5:30pmOld School RoomWe're closing a wonderful day of events with an evening of poetry by Emma Conally-Barklem. Emma’s latest collection, The High Flight: 50 Poems Inspired by Emily Brontë's Hawk, was released earlier this year and had its book launch at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. This collection takes its creative inspiration from one of the few details known about Emily Brontë. It is believed she rescued then kept a Merlin hawk who she called Nero. Conally-Barklem explores what it means to be captive and to be wild, the condition of the falconer, its lore and mystery through the enigmatic Brontë sister who stands both inside and outside of time.Emma is an author, poet and yoga teacher based in Yorkshire. She is the author of four collections. Her first collection The Ridings was curated into an exhibition in her hometown, Bradford. Hymns from the Sisters was written after a residency at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. She was a core poet for the BBC’s Contains Strong Language Poetry Festival Bradford 2025 and was a guest of Radio 4’s Front Row, where she talked about the Brontës.
Sun 27 Sept, 10:30amOld School RoomWe are delighted to welcome screenwriter and playwright Miriam Battye to the Brontë Women's Writing Festival! Miriam is currently working on a new adaptation of Jane Eyre with Working Title, starring Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, The White Lotus). She was the first writer-in-residence at Sister Pictures and is the recipient of the 2020 Harold Pinter Commission.Miriam Battye's plays include Strategic Love Play, Scenes with Girls, and The Virgins (starring Ella Bruccoleri), which was released in early 2026. Her plays have been published by Faber. Miriam's screenwriting credits include Dead Ringers, Woman in the Wall and Succession, which earned her a WGA award. Her feature film debut, Extra Geography, is out this year.
Sun 27 Sept, 12:30pmOld School RoomIn Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre, Mr Rochester marries the daughter of a West India planter and merchant in Spanish Town, Jamaica, for a large sum of £30,000...To coincide with our 2026 exhibition The Colonial Brontës, we're hosting an insightful conversation with historian Miranda Kaufmann. Her latest book, Heiresses: Marriage, Inheritance and Caribbean Slavery (2025), follows the lives of nine heiresses, tracing their tainted money from its origins in the sugar plantations of the Caribbean. Kaufmann reveals a murky world of inheritance, fortune-hunting and human exploitation.Dr. Miranda Kaufmann is the author of the Wolfson History Prize and Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize-shortlisted book Black Tudors: The Untold Story (2017). She read History at Christ Church, Oxford and is now an Honorary Fellow of the University of Liverpool, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, where she co-convened the What's Happening in Black British History? workshop series from 2014 to 2022. Miranda also served as Lead Historian for the Colonial Countryside project with National Trust houses from 2019 to 2021; and has taken her work into schools with her Teaching Black Tudors project and to the world with her Black Tudors: The Untold Story course with FutureLearn.
Sun 27 Sept, 2:00pmOld School RoomFind out how authors Wendy Pratt and Nic Wilson have approached memoir writing, and how nature and landscape helped them navigate challenging times through their lives.Wendy Pratt is an author, poet and editor. She writes about nature as refuge, and how belonging to landscape gives you a place to connect to your ancestors, even if those ancestors are only joined to you through the land you walk on. The Ghost Lake was published by The Borough Press in 2024. Her latest collection of poetry, Blackbird Singing at Dusk was released in 2024, previous collection, When I Think of My Body as a Horse, won the Poetry Business International Book and Pamphlet Competition 2020.Nic is a writer, editor, Guardian country diarist and author of the nature memoir Land Beneath the Waves, one of BBC Wildlife Magazine's Best Nature Books of 2025. She works for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, specialising in wildlife, wild plants and environmental issues. Nic has nearly 30 years’ writing experience spanning academia, education, journalism and narrative non-fiction.
Sun 27 Sept, 3:30pmBrontë Event Space in the Old School RoomThe Brontës were renowned for their powerful portrayal of moorland, which for centuries had been dismissed as bleak, empty places. Yet, with their blanket bogs, folklore, and habitats, they are some of our most fascinating and vital landscapes.In this friendly 120-minute writing workshop led by authors Clare Shaw (Bloodaxe) and Anna Chilvers (Bluemoose), we’ll read classic and contemporary literature about moors and the unique plants and creatures who live on them - and we’ll write our own stories and poetry in response. Finally, we’ll acknowledge some of the threats facing moors - and together we’ll explore how we can protect them. From experts to first-time writers, everyone is welcome!Anna Chilvers (Bluemoose) and Clare Shaw (Bloodaxe) are popular writers and facilitators who have authored and edited 14 books between them - including novels, poetry and creative non-fiction. In 2025, they co-edited The Book of Bogs (Little Toller) featuring over 40 leading writers of ecology, nature and place. Anna and Clare facilitate Bogwise: a series of bog-themed writing workshops, residentials and reading events. They are also the co-authors of b(l)og, the popular bog-themed substack!
Mon 28 Sept, 7:00pmOnline via zoomThis September, the British Library is releasing a very special edition of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.The Wuthering Heights presentation box contains facsimile volumes of the first edition of the novel and Emily’s personal copy of Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, together with copies of pages from her two manuscript poetry notebooks. Each element has been created directly from the originals held in the British Library’s collections, ensuring exceptional fidelity to the source material. The covers are carefully modelled on bindings from the period, evoking the look and feel of these mid-nineteenth-century literary treasures.We will be joined by Alison Moss from the publishing team, and curators Maddy Smith and Catherine Angerson at the British Library to discuss the process and development of their upcoming publication.
Tue 29 Sept, 7:30pmOnline via zoom'Something is happening at Westerley. Things where they shouldn't be. The shadow of a maid sweeping in the dawn light. But is the house really haunted?'Tune in for a special Festival online event with author Lauren Mooney. Lauren’s debut novel Service was inspired by her six years working as a personal assistant. The novel follows Danielle. She's broke, hates her job as PA to the blithely privileged Jeannie, and now a break-up has left her with nowhere to live. It comes as a surprise when Jeannie suggests that Danielle stay at Westerley, the sprawling Yorkshire estate where she grew up. They need someone to look after the place anyway.Lauren Mooney is a writer from the East Midlands. She works in theatre and audio drama, and has co-run Kandinsky Theatre Company since 2015, making award-winning shows across the UK and Europe. She is a graduate of UEA's Creative Writing Prose MA, where she held the David Higham Scholarship. She lives in East Sussex with her husband Stewart and their tortoise, Sacher Tort.
Wildflower Wildfore presentsFriargate Theatre, Lower Friargate, York, YO1 9SLSeptember 25, 18:30 to 22:00Poster artwork by Laura Crow. Calligraphy by Emily Hansen, Leaf on LettersThis original immersive theatre event blends storytelling, performance and botanical drinks in a journey through the seasons alongside Charlotte, Anne, Emily and Branwell Brontë, exploring their lives, relationships and literary legacy.“Across the performance, audiences will be served four specially created botanical cocktails, each inspired by a different season and member of the Brontë family, from the bright florals of Elastic Springs to the bittersweet Last Winter Rose,” says event creator Xandra Logan, York actress, writer and producer – and barrister to boot – who has moved into theatre development to make this 90-minute piece for this autumn’s York Food and Drink Festival.“Expect literature, atmosphere, storytelling and a little theatrical magic as the world of the Brontës is brought to life around you. No prior knowledge of the Brontës needed.”Incorporating bespoke cocktails as part of the package, “there will be both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options to suit audience preference”.The cast comprises Vicki Glover as Charlotte Brontë; Xandra Logan as Emily Brontë; Leah Paige as Anne Brontë; Katie Leckey as Branwell Brontë; Adam Marsdin as Patrick Brontë; Miles John as Arthur Bell Nicholls; Laura Haynes Bury as Martha Brown and Molly Meleady-Hanley as The Phantom.“The production is an ensemble piece and the characters all make up an important part of the Brontë story,” says Xandra. “The actors are largely based in this region or derived from here. The production is an ensemble piece and the characters all make up an important part of the Brontë story.”Drawing on her Yorkshire roots, Xandra is “delighted to portray Emily and explore her fierce imagination, independence and connection to the landscape that shaped her work.” (...)West Yorkshire actress Leah Paige, who has experience across stage and screen, will play Anne. “Passionate about bringing overlooked stories to life, I’m thrilled to portray the often-underestimated Anne Brontë, celebrating her quiet strength, kindness and unwavering principles,” says Leah, who will make her feature debut on Amazon Prime later this year. (CharlesHutchPress)
Alza Festival, which is run by vets of Tribeca and TikTok, kicks off its first edition with a wealth of content from the buzzy new medium [...]The same is the case for the vertical Wuthering Heights, set on a present-day American ranch, which premieres Sunday. (Max Goldbart)
Oakley’s film is beautiful, too, shot in a naturally diluted light reminiscent of Joe Wright’s 2005 Pride and Prejudice, with its soft skies and washed-out greens. In this respect, it feels more Brontë than Austen. Marianne does have a great deal of Cathy about her. There is a heightened romanticism here that Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights might well envy. (Dora Davies-Evitt)
If Hollywood is the measure, classic novels written by women are all the rage.In the coming months, “House of the Dragon” actor Emma Corrin will star as Lizzie Bennet in a Netflix adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” Daisy Edgar-Jones will headline a new “Sense and Sensibility” movie, and Aimee Lou Wood will play the titular character in a television adaptation of “Jane Eyre.” Earlier this year, director Emerald Fennell’s version of “Wuthering Heights” grossed more than $240 million at the box office. [...]Austen, in particular, may be the most widely adapted writer in English after William Shakespeare. Though she and other authors like the Brontë sisters lived relatively short, geographically confined lives, their work has been reimagined across the world, from California to India.“But their minds were so expansive,” [Cristina Richieri Griffin, an assistant professor in the English department at the University of Virginia] said. “I love the idea that their writing planted seeds that eventually sprang into work that didn’t exist for almost 200 years after they were writing their novels.” (Alice Berry)
.png)
Brontë. Live at St. Michael's and All Angels Church, Haworth
Guiem Soldevila, Neus Ferri, Clara Gorrias1. If This Be All (Live)
2. Night (Live)
3. On the Death of Anne Brontë (Live)
4. Fall, Leaves, Fall (Live)
by Jen SilvermanDirected By Edward SobelVillanova Theatre,800 Lancaster Avenue The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts, Villanova, PA 19085September 24 - October 4, 2026Wildcard Wednesday: September 23Speaker's Series: September 27Drinks with the Dramaturg: October 2On the desolate English moors, two sisters and their maid carefully guard family secrets. When a governess arrives expecting a conventional post, she discovers unwritten rules, shifting alliances, and very real danger. In The Moors, every character aches to be loved, recognized, or feared — and at least one of them is willing to kill for it.At turns humorous, savage, and seductive, Silverman’s dark comedy, steeped in Victorian atmosphere, takes inspiration from the Brontë sisters' celebrated novels to create a world all its own.Come for the gothic intrigue. Stay for the lovestruck dog.
Thu 24 Sept 2:00pm, Brontë Space at the Old School RoomThu 24 Septç 7:30pm (Zoom)Like his siblings, Branwell suffered a series of losses throughout his lifetime, attending the deathbed of his mother, his Aunt and his close friend William Weightman. Branwell drew on these losses as inspiration for his writing, capturing his experiences in both his letters and poetry. This talk will explore these writings, looking at both the inspirations and how Branwell captures his experiences of grief.This month’s Thursday Talk will be delivered by Brontë scholar Rose Gant.
Talks exploring the life and legacy of Branwell Brontë are taking place at the Brontë Parsonage and Brontë Birthplace.The events aim to shed light on the often-overlooked brother of the famous Brontë sisters, who made his mark as both an artist and poet but whose life was ultimately overshadowed by personal struggles.On September 22, the Brontë Birthplace hosted an online talk titled Sibling Rivalry: Unpacking the Art of Branwell Brontë, led by guest speaker Dr Maebh O’Regan.The talk explored Branwell’s artistic output, focusing on his creative process.Branwell’s most well-known work is The Brontë Sisters Portrait, also known as The Pillar Portrait, painted in 1834.Though the piece has received negative criticism, it remains one of the most popular works in the British National Portrait Gallery.Later in the week, the Brontë Parsonage will present an in-person and online talk on September 24, titled Grief and Loss in the Writing of Branwell Brontë.Led by Brontë scholar Rose Gant, the talk will begin at 2pm at the Parsonage, with a Zoom session offered at 7.30pm.A spokesman for the Brontë Parsonage said: "Like his siblings, Branwell suffered a series of losses throughout his lifetime, attending the deathbed of his mother, his aunt and his close friend William Weightman."Branwell drew on these losses as inspiration for his writing, capturing his experiences in both his letters and poetry."This talk will explore these writings, looking at both the inspirations and how Branwell captures his experiences of grief." (Amelia Short)
As bleak as it is beautiful, the windswept landscape of the South Pennines and its surrounding settlements in West Yorkshire fuelled the imagination of the Brontë sisters as they wrote their works in the mid-19th century.“In the hill-country silence, their poetry comes by lines and stanzas into my mind,” wrote Charlotte Brontë, reflecting on the moorland after the deaths of her sisters, Anne and Emily.Yet residents warn the setting that inspired the Brontës could be lost forever to England’s largest onshore wind farm. [...]“It’s not just a local moor,” explains Nick MacKinnon, who lives in the small village of Stanbury. “It’s internationally designated twice, and it’s internationally famous as the Brontë moor. [...]As for the wind farm’s ramifications for tourism, Calderdale Energy Park said: “Our assessment work to date concludes that Top Withens and its Brontë associations would remain intact, with no harm to its heritage significance.”Yet Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, is not convinced.“You can’t separate the Brontës’ work and the influence on them from the landscape itself,” she says. “The two are completely entwined.”Despite having seen visitor numbers increase by 20pc, in part because of the release of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, Yorke believes the tourism related to the literary heritage would be affected if the project went ahead, given the landscape would be “forever changed”.“Wuthering Heights is full of references to wildlife, particularly birds, such as lapwings and skylarks, which are around today. And there are also several mentions of peat in the novel,” she says“The Brontës themselves were well aware of the nature which made up the moors.”Yorke points to the final line of Wuthering Heights in which Lockwood, seemingly untouched by the turbulence he has witnessed, ponders the “quiet earth” of Brontë country.“If Calderdale Energy Park is not stopped, then the ‘quiet’ of this unique and special place will be shattered by the industrial hum of turbines, and the ‘earth’ replaced by tons of concrete,” she says. (Robert White)
The couple in the song burn with feeling, however let their pride stand between them. Years pass. Only then do the lyrical protagonists see what they’ve lost, and by that point, the door is already closed. What remains is longing that never fades and hunger with nowhere left to go.Amanda Fagan treats this story with lightness, allowing the sadness to come through naturally. “Forever Yearn” is a minor tragedy concerning timing and stubbornness, in that two lives can easily drift apart when neither of the individuals is willing to yield first.The song takes a classic story of ruined passion and turns it into a personal and up-to-date account, one that deals with the cost of delaying too long in saying what is important. (Layla Moore)
She moved on to the Theatre Royal, Horsham, where her roles included Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights (1953), with Michael Caine as her brother Hindley. (Anthony Hayward in The Guardian)
by Anne DaltonForum Theatre Billingham23/09/2026 to 26/09/2026Experience the passion, mystery and romance of Jane Eyre - The Musical, from award-winning writer Anne Dalton, creator of the internationally acclaimed Her Benny — winner of the International Quest for New Musicals.Starring Janet Cowley (The Phantom of the Opera), alongside Peter Brindle (A Christmas Carol), Elena Porter, Megan Hughes and Peter Chapman (Joseph), this sweeping new production brings Charlotte Brontë’s beloved classic thrillingly to life.New to the story or a lifelong fan? Be transported through eerie Yorkshire mists, haunting secrets and soaring emotion in this powerful Gothic musical filled with unforgettable songs, sparkling dialogue and breathtaking drama.Follow Jane from her difficult childhood to the grandeur of Thornfield Hall, where she meets the darkly charismatic Mr Rochester — a man hiding a devastating secret. Intelligent, independent and fiercely determined, Jane proves more than a match for her brooding employer.Will love conquer the shadows of the past?Laugh, cry and be swept away by this truly magical theatrical experience.
Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, said: "We have not consulted our local accommodation partners or our visitors about the possible introduction of an overnight visitor levy, but understand why there might be concerns."The current economic climate continues to put pressure on the budgets of businesses and visitors alike and many tourist destinations have already been impacted by increased costs, e.g. the price of fuel and car parking charges."She stressed the need for transparency if a levy is introduced.Ms Yorke said: "While the introduction of a tourism levy will bring us in line with many European destinations, we believe it's important that its purpose is clearly communicated and articulates how the income generated by it will be used." (Amelia Short)
Just this year, Emerald Fennell crafted her own spin on Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” and Christopher Nolan struck box office gold with his version of “The Odyssey,” proving there is always new material to mine, even if it makes literary purists uneasy. (Sophia Ciminello)
Wuthering Heights by Emily BrontëA gothic story of longing set between two neighboring estates in a bleak northern England setting, Wuthering Heights follows multiple generations of love stories between destructive characters and passionate romantic tangles. Obsessive love, social class, and even a few ghostly hauntings come into play in this page-turner that feels like one endless rainy day. (Arabella Hau)
The Real Love Story Behind Jane Eyre Was Much DarkerJoin Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Jane Eyre, the world it was born of, and the novel itself.
.png)
Tuesday 22 September 2026 via Zoom at 18.30Dr Maebh O’ Regan’s talk examines the art of Branwell Brontë, with special focus on his process and practice. Collaboration and rivalry were the driving forces behind the Brontë siblings’ creative endeavours, but given the Victorian construction of masculinity, where the male was the breadwinner and, in every way superior to the female, Branwell had his limitations.Charlotte was the first member of the Brontë family to achieve success as a visual artist. In 1834 she had two drawings accepted for the summer exhibition in the Royal Society for Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Leeds, and these architectural landscapes were displayed in company with the work of such established artists as J. M.W. Turner.1834 was also the year when Emily and Anne joined forces creating their first diary paper in visual and verbal format.Branwell’s initial work in oils, The Brontë Sister’s Portrait, also known as The Pillar Portrait, was painted the same year. It’s first critic, Mrs Gaskell, deemed it to be, ‘not much better than a sign painting as to manipulation, but the likenesses were admirable.’ Much of the negative criticism regarding Branwell’s work derives from a lack of understanding of the materials and methods available to a Victorian artist. However, The Pillar Portrait continues to be one of the most popular works in the British National Portrait Gallery. This mysterious painting raises many questions around its composition and content. Why did Charlotte deny the existence of The Pillar Portrait, and why is there no mention of this painting in their family correspondence? What prompted Arthur Bell Nicholls to remove it from its stretcher and to secrete it on top of a wardrobe at his home in Banagher, Ireland? And finally, why did the National Portrait Gallery decide not to restore the work before they put it on display?To address these questions, it is necessary to explore Branwell’s artistic journey in light of the pedagogical standards of the day. The visual arts played a significant role in the lives of all of the Brontë children therefore, it is important to analyse Branwell’s artistic output in conjunction with his creative interaction with his siblings.
It is not that every film needs a blockbuster budget to justify its worth, but other mid-budget films released this year, such as “Wuthering Heights" or even “The Sheep Detectives,” do not have these same visual problems. This is despite both films having comparable budgets and similar amounts of CGI to “Practical Magic 2.” (Riley Morgan)
by Sarah GordonCotswold PlayhouseDirected by Kate JackelSeptember 22- September 26Lizzy Leach as Charlotte, Florence Simpson as Emily and Sophia Hines as Anne, with James McGrath as their brother Branwell.This is not a story about well-behaved women...This is a story about the power of words.Charlotte Brontë has a confession about how one sister became an idol, and the other became known as the other Brontë. You know the one. No, not that one. The other, other one…Anne.Loud, funny, and heartbreaking, Underdog is an irreverent retelling of the life and legend of the Brontë sisters, and the story of the sibling power dynamics that shaped their uneven rise to fame.Written by Sarah Gordon for the National Theatre and Northern Stage, the play premiered in 2024.
Further information in Shroud News & Journal<
studying Jane Eyre in school and being drawn to characters who are always unapologetic and tenacious, some characters come into your life to teach you lessons – that you should take up more space or challenge the rules a little. (Harriet Curzon)
Many critics cite Brontë’s noticeable personal prejudices throughout the story as well as a plot lacking intensity and depth as reasons to consider this the lesser of her four novels. They may be right on one level, but others note that Brontë cleverly used a male narrator to point out and address areas in which women weren’t treated as they should have been, most noticeably in the workforce and in terms of their pay.Whether you see the story’s flaws or prefer to see its good points, “The Professor” deserves a read by anyone wanting another glimpse into the mind of the woman who gave us “Jane Eyre.” (Tammy Marshall)
“It’s mad, isn’t it? But I’m from North Yorkshire, and I just thought Jane Austen wasn’t a writer for me. She was more for posh southern people. I used to read loads of Brontë because that was the world I was from,” the actor said. (Amy Glover)
“Like a great character in a romance novel, Evelyn plays a leading role in life. Her fierce independence, passion for life, and intense love for family makes her a modern Jane Eyre.” (Chris John Amorosino)
The Brontë Sisters UK explores her personal collection of Wuthering Heights editions.
Afuh Didachos Mbeng, Department of Official Languages and Translation, University of EbolowaInternational Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, RSIS International, vol. 10(3), pages 8159-8167, March 2026This article discusses female education and punishment in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and Buchi Emecheta's Second-Class Citizen, and considers the novelists as writers who do not only advocate for the education and empowerment of the woman, particularly the girl child but also shed light on the societal punishments and limitations imposed on them. In other words, the article shows that both authors emphasize the significance of education in empowering girls and promoting personal growth while critiquing societal restrictions and punishments that girls who desire education face. To both novelists, limited access to education for the girl child, patriarchal oppression and social stigma which characterize(d) Victorian and the post independent African societies serve as containments that attempt to suppress potentially subversive feminist narratives. Using new historicist approach, and drawing from Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punishent, and his observations on the nature and purpose of punishment to show both novelists' destabilization of class and gender hierarchies, the work offers insights into the contentious relationship between British fin de siècle and postcolonial African societies on the one hand, and the education of the girl child on the other hand, thereby questioning the authenticity and representation of society as a disciplinary unit, leading to the conclusion that Brontë and Emeheta harbor a social and cultural agenda with focus on female education.
Doppeltes Übersetzen. Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffers Theaterstück ›Die Waise aus Lowood‹ (1853) und Charlotte Brontës Roman ›Jane Eyre‹ (1847) (Double Translation. Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer's Play 'The Orphan of Lowood' (1853) and Charlotte Brontë's Novel 'Jane Eyre' (1847))
Broterwerb, Alltagsgeschäft, künstlerische Praxis: Studien zu Übersetzerinnen aus der Sammlung Varnhagen (Breadwinning, Daily Business, Artistic Practice: Studies on Women Translators from the Varnhagen Collection)Edited by Jadwiga Kita-Huber and Frederike MiddelhoffBrill VerlagISBN 978-3-7705-7089-8September 2026
Der Band widmet sich bislang unerschlossenen oder kaum erforschten Übersetzungen von Frauen, die mit einem der größten Handschriftenarchive Europas – der in Krakau (Jagiellonen-Bibliothek) aufbewahrten Sammlung Varnhagen – in Verbindung stehen. Für Akteurinnen wie Rosa Maria Assing, Sarah Austin, Helmina von Chézy, Caroline de Crespigny, Ottilie von Goethe oder Henriette Schubart bedeutete das Übersetzen nicht allein eine finanzielle Einnahmequelle. Vielmehr war es im Spannungsfeld von künstlerischem Selbstausdruck, dem Verlangen zur Mitgestaltung ästhetischer Geschmacksbildung und alltäglichen Formen schriftlicher, oftmals mehrsprachiger Kommunikation verortet. Die Beiträge nehmen die Schriften der Übersetzerinnen und ihre aus der Sammlung Varnhagen ersichtliche Vernetzung zum Anlass, die vielfältigen Praktiken des Übersetzens zu differenzieren und sowohl die ästhetischen Strategien als auch die kulturpolitischen Maximen der Übersetzerinnen zu ermitteln.
Readme isn’t the first dating app for book lovers, but its release comes at a time when the fetish for literary culture and all things bookish has reached a fever pitch. Celebrities like Solange Knowles, Kaia Gerber and Dua Lipa herself have started virtual book clubs and libraries. Film adaptations of literary classics like “Wuthering Heights” and “The Odyssey” are some of the biggest talkers of the year. One New York City bookseller, McNally Jackson, hosts sexy singles events, while another sends its regulars out into the streets in branded caps that simply say “Books” on the front. (Gina Cherelus)
There was a "living jukebox" in Royal Avenue, a wrestling corner at Grand Central Station and Kate Bush fans got the chance to strut their stuff at nearby Saltwater Square for a "Wuthering Heights extravaganza".Carrie Davenport/Culture Night Belfast A number of people playing violins at Culture Night Belfast in 2025. There is a woman at the front with long brown hair and a dark blouse, playing a violin.Carrie Davenport/Culture Night BelfastCulture Night Belfast returned last year after a four-year hiatusThe Kitsch Sisters, who seek to empower women through "creativity, connection and community" hosted "Cathy's Call" which they described as a "flashmob, immersive dance"."When people turn up, they must be wearing red, it is essential," Aoife McAteer told BBC Radio Ulster's the Ticket."You don't have to be a dancer, you don't have to have any rhythm, you don't have to come with a big group of people, just arrive."Arrive dressed in red, at seven o'clock [in the evening] and we have a choreographer there called Lauren, who is going to take everybody through the steps." (Ross McKee)
A proper little library light, designed to perch on shelves, mantelpieces, and bookcases, wherever a cord would only get in the way. The Bronte clips neatly into place and brings a warm pool of light exactly where it’s needed - whether that's illuminating your latest read or simply making your shelves look considerably more inviting. Available in natural whitewash, bronze, silvery black, brass, and turquoise, each version has its own personality, but all share the same handsome ribbed detailing and wonderfully practical clamp fitting. Cordless, portable, and endlessly useful, it’s the sort of light that quickly finds itself being moved from shelf to shelf as you discover yet another perfect spot for it.
Unless explicitly said
